Latest Interviews

While Kerry King stopped short of saying everything was smooth sailing when we talked to him at the Guitar World Rock & Roll Roast of Zakk Wylde in January, the Slayer guitarist seemed upbeat on what 2012 holds for thrash's most evil band.

Here's part two of my recent interview with guitarist Alex Skolnick of Testament and the Alex Skolnick Trio. To read part one, which focused on Skolnick's unique journey as a jazz player, head here. When we left off, Skolnick was answering questions from readers about a variety of topics.

Punch Brothers are not a bluegrass band. While you might be fooled into thinking otherwise by their traditional instrumentation and blinding picking chops, a quick listen will prove they are a highly evolved mutation of Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys. Led by mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile, the group takes influences ranging from Radiohead to Bach to Earl Scruggs and combines them into a strikingly unique brand of acoustic music.

It’s often said that the music industry works in cycles, that everything old becomes new again, and that (fill in your favorite cliche here). In fact, 2012 is lining up to be the year classic becomes contemporary, as legendary bands release blistering new albums, artists from previous decades tour to capacity crowds, and punk rock — 30 years old and sometimes thought of as a thing of the past — rears its furious, distorted head again like a shot heard around the world.

Having sold more than 100 million records over the course of their 47-year career, German rock gods Scorpions will certainly be missed once the final note rings out at the last date of their two-and-a-half-year farewell tour later this year. But, as longtime guitarist Matthias Jabs explained in a recent interview with Guitarworld.com, the band doesn’t want to fall victim to an avoidable element that has tainted the legacies of so many groups before them: time.

The Explorers Club, a six-man band from South Carolina, have a sound that's unique in the 21st century -- mainly because it is heavily influenced by the vocal harmony styles and production qualities of The Beach Boys and other mid-'60s pop bands.

Next month, Michigan-based post-hardcore rockers Sleeping With Sirens will set off on their first-ever headlining tour in support of 2011's Let’s Cheers to This (Rise Records). In the meantime, the band is knee-deep in a winter tour in support of label mates Attack Attack!, and they're putting the finishing touches on their forthcoming, still-untitled acoustic EP.

In his work as a solo artist, Bret Michaels’ right-hand man is guitarist Pete Evick, a multitalented musician who, in addition to playing guitar in the Bret Michaels Band, has also served as a co-songwriter, producer, mixer and musical director for the group. On the rare occasion he finds himself with some free time, the guitarist also pursues his own projects, which include studio work for a variety of artists as well as recording and performing with his long running band, Evick.

With Symphony X kicking off a North American tour with Iced Earth this week, we couldn't think of a better candidate to relaunch our "60 Minutes" feature with that the band's virtuoso guitarist, Michael Romeo.

Alex Skolnick is one busy man. He has been touring relentlessly, promoting his latest Alex Skolnick Jazz Trio album, Veritas, and co-headlining a tour with Anthrax and Death Angel. He even hosted a guitar camp, the Winter Guitar Retreat, with Megadeth's Chris Broderick over the holidays. On January 20 at the 2012 Winter NAMM show in Anaheim, California, Skolnick and his band, Testament, headlined the Dean Guitars NAMM Jam.